Edit Preferences

Click the Edit tab to set preferences that control various edit functions in VectorWorks.

 

Parameter	Description
Click drag drawing	Lets you draw objects with the click-drag method rather than the click-click method (click-click is the default). Click once with the mouse button and do not release; drag the cursor to a desired location and then release. See Using the Mouse.
SmartCursor cues	Displays cues in full next to the cursor; deselect the option to hide the cues
Opaque SmartCursor	Displays SmartCursor cues that are opaque instead of transparent
Use floating datum	Sets a temporary data origin; when the option is deselected, this feature is only available manually (see Smart Points)
Eight reshape handles	Shows eight handles (four corner and four center) on most objects; deselect the option to display only four corner handles
Offset duplications	When you use the Duplicate command, places the duplicate object so that it is offset from the original object; deselect the option to place duplicates directly over the original
Snap to loci	Displays 2D loci with crosshairs that extend to the edges of the drawing window; these create snap zones to simplify the alignment of objects along a certain horizontal or vertical axis
Full screen cursor	Displays a crosshair cursor that extends to the edges of the drawing area
Auto join walls	When you use the Wall tool, automatically joins walls at corners and intersections; when walls are separated, their ends automatically heal (see Automatically Joining Walls)
Separate sheet views	Saves the view origin and zoom factor for each sheet layer; deselect the option to use the same view for all design layers and sheet layers
Mouse wheel zooms	Sets the default behavior of the mouse wheel and the Mighty Mouse scroll ball. When selected, the wheel zooms by default; when deselected, the wheel scrolls by default. See Zooming with the Mouse Wheel and Scrolling with the Mouse Wheel for details.
Constrain angle	Sets an alternate angle to use with the SmartCursor and Constrain angle constraint
Snap radius	Sets the number of pixels away from a snap point to activate the SmartCursor
2D conversion res	Sets the number of segments that will be used to represent polylines and circles when you draw and edit objects
Default compression	Specifies the default image compression to apply to images in a viewport cache and to images created by the Render Bitmap tool (RenderWorks required). PNG compression provides the best image quality but produces larger files, while JPEG creates smaller files, but with possible loss of detail. PNG is selected by default.
Arrow Keys	Select an arrow and modifier key combination as a shortcut for four common operations; each key combination can be assigned to only one operation
Switch active layer/class	Select the key combination that switches the active layer (up and down arrows) and the active class (left and right arrows)
Pan drawing	Select the key combination that pans the drawing by half of the area currently in view
Nudge objects	Select the key combination that nudges objects by one pixel
Move objects	Select the key combination that moves objects, and select whether to move objects by the snap grid distance or by the specified custom distance